Joe Turner Appointed To National Parks Board

Congratulations to Joe Turner, the City of Houston’s Director of Parks and Recreation Department.

Turner has been appointed to the National Recreation and Park Association’s Board of Directors.

Turner is a nice guy and very widely respected for the work he’s done transforming many Houston parks into crown jewels of the community.

William “Joe” Turner Appointed to NRPA Board of Directors

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recently appointed William “Joe” Turner to the organization’s 2010-2011 Board of Directors. The announcement was made during NRPA’s Annual Congress & Exposition in Minneapolis, Minn.NRPA’s Board of Directors is composed of 21 individuals. Board members are representative of NRPA’s membership, which includes leaders in the park, recreation and conservation movement, park and recreation professionals, and individuals from corporations, industry suppliers, commercial businesses, and volunteer and civic groups.

“Joe will be an asset to our Board,” said Janna Rankin, chair of NRPA’s Board of Directors. “He has supported the park and recreation movement and NRPA’s mission on many levels throughout his career. We are excited to have his expertise and leadership skills, which we know will contribute to achieving NRPA’s goals and moving the association forward.”

Joe Turner, a native Houstonian, has served as the Director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) since July 2004. HPARD is responsible for developing and maintaining the City of Houston’s over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspaces and providing recreational opportunities and programming for citizens of all abilities. Prior to serving the city, he was the Parks Administrator for Harris County Precinct 4. A Gulf Coast Master Naturalist, he holds an Executive Master of Business Administration Degree from Texas Women’s University and is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association, the Texas Recreation and Park Society, the Greater Gulf Coast Parks and Recreation Director’s Association, the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition, Trees For Houston, the Heritage Society, the Houston Garden Center Board, Hermann Park Conservancy, the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, and Houston Wilderness.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of roughly 18,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrec-magazine.org

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department stewards and manages over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.